Employment website facts for kids

An employment website is like a special online bulletin board where people can find jobs and companies can find workers. These websites are often called job boards. They let companies post what kind of workers they need, and people looking for jobs can search through these listings.

You can also find other helpful things on these sites, like reviews of different companies, advice on how to find a job, and descriptions of what different jobs are like. Through an employment website, you can often fill out a job application or send your resume (a summary of your skills and experience) online for a job you're interested in.

How Online Job Boards Started

Online job searching began in the early 1990s.

In 1992, a non-profit group called the Online Career Center was created by Bill Warren. It was supported by many big companies. This allowed people looking for jobs to post their resumes and for companies to post job openings.

Then, in 1994, a company called NetStart Inc. started. They sold software to companies to help them list jobs on their own websites. Later, this company became its own website, which we now know as CareerBuilder.

Around the same time, in 1995, six major newspapers teamed up to put their job listings online. This service was called CareerPath.com. It included job ads from big newspapers like the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times.

In 1999, a website called Monster.com became very popular after running some funny TV ads during the Super Bowl. These ads helped Monster.com become one of the top online job sites.

Different Kinds of Job Boards

A job board is a website that helps people find jobs. They can be very big sites that list all kinds of jobs, or they can be smaller, special sites that focus on specific types of jobs. For example, there are job boards just for engineering jobs, teaching jobs, or even green jobs (jobs that help the environment).

On these sites, you can usually upload your résumé so that companies and recruiters (people who help companies find workers) can see it. Companies can also post job ads and look for potential employees.

Some websites are like job search engines. They don't list jobs themselves, but they search other job boards and websites to find job openings. This is like a "one-stop shop" where you can search many different places at once. For example, USAJobs.gov is the official U.S. government website for jobs, gathering listings from hundreds of federal agencies.

Specialized job boards are becoming more important. They help people find very specific jobs and help companies find exactly the right person. For example, Dice.com is a big "niche" job board that focuses only on jobs in the IT (information technology) industry.

Websites with Company Reviews

An employer review website is a type of employment site where current and past employees can share their thoughts about working for a company. These sites often look like online discussion forums. People usually comment on things like the management, the working conditions, and the pay. While these sites might link to companies, they don't always list job openings themselves. They are more about sharing experiences.

Websites with Advice and Information

Many job sites offer advice on how to write a good resume, do well in interviews, and other tips for job seekers. But some websites focus only on providing this kind of information, rather than job opportunities. For example, Working in Canada provides lots of information about local job markets in Canada, what you need to work in different jobs, and details about laws and government services. This kind of information can be helpful for anyone thinking about their career, looking for a job, or even for employers.

How These Sites Make Money

Most employment websites charge companies a fee to post job openings. This is often a flat fee for a certain amount of time, like 30 or 60 days. Some sites might let companies post basic job listings for free but charge extra if they want their listing to appear higher in search results. A few sites use a "pay-for-performance" model, where the company only pays when someone clicks on their job listing.

Online Safety Tips

Many job search engines and job boards encourage you to upload your resume and contact details. While this can be helpful for finding a job, it's very important to be careful with your personal information. Once you upload your resume, you don't have control over who sees it.

Here are some things to be aware of:

• Your current employer might see your resume if you're looking for a new job.
• Criminals could use information from your resume to gather your personal details and even try to steal your identity.

Always be cautious about what personal information you share online and make sure you understand the privacy settings of any website you use.

See also

• Career-oriented social networking market
• Freelance marketplace
• .jobs
• Job wrapping
• List of employment websites